Conférence sur innovation à l’occasion de lancement des Prix CFC de l’Innovation
Shenzhen, 4 février 2025
How New Forms of AI Are Revolutionizing Business Operations From a structural aspect to business sectors
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Launch of the 12th FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE Innovation Awards (FCC Awards)
On Wednesday, 4th February 2026, in Shenzhen, the COMITE FRANCE CHINE organized an Innovation Conference and officially launched the 12th edition of the FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE Innovation Awards.
The Awards are supported by KERING, President of the Alumni Club of the Awards, which has been existing since 2021. The eight partners of the Awards are: AIR FRANCE, the CCICF (China Chamber of Commerce in France), FRENCH TECH BEIJING, the FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE ADVISORS (CCEF in French), CCI FRANCE–CHINA, PROVENCE PROMOTION, the PARIS CLUB OF INNOVATION DIRECTORS, and AIX-MARSEILLE UNIVERSITY. Four major Chinese companies also support the Awards: BANK OF CHINA, ADISSEO, FOSUN, and TENCENT. This year BANK OF CHINA is a special support for this Innovation conference.
The FCC Innovation Awards are organized under the patronage of the French Ministries of the Economy and Finance, and of Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, as well as the Ministry responsible for Higher Education and Research.
This conference took place as part of a Learning Expedition organized by the FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE in Shenzhen from the 3rd to 5th February 2026. The objective was to deepen French companies’ understanding of Shenzhen innovation ecosystem, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and the low-altitude economy. Around ten French companies participated, including BNP PARIBAS, EDF, FIVES, SERVIER, OP MOBILITY, FIVES, SODEXO, VEOLIA, and PROVENCE PROMOTION. The ambition of this initiative was to collectively foster genuine knowledge sharing about this ecosystem.
The Innovation Conference entitled “How New Forms of AI Are Revolutionizing Business Operations From a structural aspect to business sectors” brought together around one hundred French and Chinese innovation stakeholders, including major French corporations, national and local Chinese companies, and a representative of the French Consulate General in Guangzhou. The conference was structured around several key moments of exchange:
- An opening address by Sybille DUBOIS FONTAINE, CEO of the FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE.
- A video address by Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Ambassador of the FCC Awards, former Prime Minister of France and President of the Fondation Prospective & Innovation.
- A speech from the French General Consul in Guangzhou, Mr. Laurent LEGODEC, who explained the importance of cross-investment and partnership initiatives such as the FCC Innovation Awards.
- A first sectoral panel bringing together representatives from French and Chinese companies in the fields of healthcare, automotive, energy, and finance, including two winners of the 2025 FCC Innovation Awards:
- Olivier DESSAJAN, General Manager, CHINA MERCHANTS–COLISEE
- TIAN Dong, Senior Vice President, Director of Local Loops of the Energy Business Line, VEOLIA CHINA
- FENG Yong, Product Marketing, Research & Innovation Manager, VALEO CHINA
- CHEN Sibo, Head of Corporate Banking and Investment Banking Department, BANK OF CHINA SHENZHEN
The speakers shared their sector-specific experiences, particularly how innovation in China is rapidly transforming ways of producing, storing, distributing, consuming and providing services.
Gabrielle CHOU, Associate Professor of Practice and Program in Interactive Media at New York University Shanghai made a compelling presentation on geostrategy and the emergence of new AI-driven technological forces. One French expert—Ludovic KRUNDEL, President of FRENCH TECH SHENZHEN and one Chinese expert James BAO, Venture Capital Advisor at the SHENZHEN ANGEL FUND, shared their perspectives and analyses on the structural impact of artificial intelligence across all spheres of the economy, using a comparative US–EU–China approach. Special attention was given to the critical importance of access to data in these regions, as well as to China’s specific case: the strengths, limitations, and future development paths of its AI model, including public policies such as the AI+ plan. Concrete examples of AI applications were highlighted, particularly in key sectors such as industry and healthcare.
Finally, the floor was given to the partners of the FCC Innovation Awards. XIAO Liang, President of the China Chamber of Commerce in France, and Florence GOMEZ, Marketing & Influence Director at PROVENCE PROMOTION, shared their definitions of “innovation” and explained why it lies at the heart of all their activities in both France and China.
In conclusion, Sybille DUBOIS FONTAINE, CEO of the FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE, officially announced the launch of the 12th edition of the FCC Innovation Awards and the opening of the call for applications. She highlighted several emblematic projects of the Awards, in particular the winners of the 11th edition:
- VEOLIA – R&D Award:
For the needs of the city of Harbin, VEOLIA developed the intelligent “AHEAD” system (artificial intelligence and connected objects) to manage an urban heating network and improve building energy efficiency.
- VALEO – Innovative Product Award:
Development of a new Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system for electric vehicles. The “HVAC Dual Layer” system enables energy savings while improving passenger safety and comfort.
- CMA CGM – Innovative Initiative Award:
The “THUNDER” solution, developed between Marseille and Shanghai, is a USD-denominated online payment platform dedicated to maritime freight. It directly connects CMA CGM with its customers, eliminates paper documentation, and enables seamless electronic data transfer between customers, banks, and the company.
About COMITE FRANCE CHINE
FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE (FCC) brings together French companies that are active in France and in China over the long term. Through the FCC, companies work together to develop their business with China and to promote Franco-Chinese cooperation. Founded in 1979 with the support of French and Chinese authorities, it is currently co-chaired by Jean LEMIERRE, Chairman of BNP PARIBAS, and Jean-Paul AGON, Chairman of L’ORÉAL. Having become a key high-level player in French economic diplomacy in China, FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE represents the voice of French companies in economic dialogue with Chinese public and private stakeholders.
About KERING
A global luxury group, KERING brings together and develops a portfolio of iconic Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, and Jewelry: GUCCI, SAINT LAURENT, BOTTEGA VENETA, BALENCIAGA, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, BRIONI, BOUCHERON, POMELLATO, DODO, QEELIN, GINORI 1735, as well as KERING Eyewear and KERING Beauté.
Discover KERING: https://www.kering.com/fr/groupe/decouvrez-kering/
About the COMITE FRANCE CHINE Innovation Awards
The FRANCE CHINA COMMITTEE Innovation Awards were launched in 2014 during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China. Their objective was to highlight innovation, to associate France not only with romance but also with innovation, and to showcase the innovative capabilities of French companies in China in order to attract top-level Chinese engineers.
The CFC Innovation Awards aim to recognize particularly innovative projects developed jointly by bicultural Franco-Chinese teams or within a broader Franco-Chinese context. These teams may come from a wide range of backgrounds, including universities, French Grandes Écoles, laboratories, R&D centers, and/or French and/or Chinese companies.
Candidates are rewarded for innovative technologies, products, or services that have a significant industrial, economic, environmental, or social impact at all stages of the innovation process, across three award categories:
- R&D Award, recognizing innovations that have not yet been commercialized.
- Innovative Product Award, recognizing innovations that are already commercialized and for which a patent has been filed prior to submission.
- Innovative Initiative Award, recognizing other forms of innovation, including ideas, software, business models, organizational methods, or similar processes already implemented within an organization.
Each innovative project is evaluated based on four criteria:
- The involvement of a Franco-Chinese team in an innovation process or a project developed in a Franco-Chinese context,
- Its innovative aspects,
- Its economic viability, and
- Its industrial, economic, environmental, or social usefulness.
The Awards are judged by a prestigious Franco-Chinese jury chaired by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The jury is composed of Franco-Chinese experts from various institutions, companies, and the scientific community.
For any questions or suggestions, please contact Julien EYCHENNE at: francechina-innovationawards@medef.fr
